AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your Inter-Zone Knowledge!

Sun, 04 Sep, 2022

AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your Inter-Zone Knowledge!

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone Semi-finals are set to be enticing affairs with Uzbekistan’s PFC Sogdiana to play Eastern Long Lions of Hong Kong while India’s ATK Mohun Bagan and Kuala Lumpur City FC of Malaysia will lock horns.

Ahead of the semi-finals, the-AFC.com invites you - the fans - to test your knowledge on the AFC Cup Inter-Zone. 

Sogdiana in the right place, says Bakaev

Sat, 03 Sep, 2022

Sogdiana in the right place, says Bakaev

Jizzakh: Head coach Ulugbek Bakaev believes PFC Sogdiana are in the right frame of mind ahead of their AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone Semi-final against Hong Kong’s Eastern Long Lions on Tuesday.

Sogdiana recently defeated Qizilqum FC 4-3 on penalties in the Uzbekistan Cup and are very much in the race for the Uzbekistan Super League title and Bakaev is confident his charges can continue their rich vein of form when they host Eastern Long Lions at the Sogdiana Stadium.

Gallifuoco proud to be part of Kuala Lumpur City journey

Fri, 02 Sep, 2022

Gallifuoco proud to be part of Kuala Lumpur City journey

Kuala Lumpur: In a little over a year and a half since Giancarlo Gallifuoco joined Kuala Lumpur City FC, the Australian defender has been part of the club's most successful period since the turn of the millennium as the side from the Malaysian capital have shone both domestically and on the continent. 

The centre-back capped his inaugural season in the Southeast Asian country by helping KL City win their first Malaysia Cup since 1989, beating domestic powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim in the final, but that was only the start of the journey as the team's ascendancy continued in their debut AFC Cup™ campaign.

Having advanced from the group stage at the first time of asking, KL City defeated Vietnam's Viettel FC on penalties in the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals and then were crowned ASEAN Zonal champions following a resounding 5-2 victory over Indonesia's PSM Makassar to book an Inter-Zone semi-final date with India's ATK Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

With the City Boys now just two games away from the AFC Cup 2022 final, the-AFC.com caught up with Gallifuoco to discuss why he chose Kuala Lumpur, his side's incredible record in cup competitions, teammates past and present, and much more. 

#AFCCup2022 - Inter-Zone S-finals: How They Got There

Sat, 03 Sep, 2022

#AFCCup2022 - Inter-Zone S-finals: How They Got There

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone Semi-finals promise to be cracking affairs with all four teams aiming to lift the coveted trophy.

India's ATK Mohun Bagan will play Kuala Lumpur City FC of Malaysia while Uzbekistan's PFC Sogdiana meet Eastern Long Lions of Hong Kong.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at how the teams moved to within two matches of winning the AFC Cup.

Kozubaev aiming high with Eastern as Inter-Zone semi-final looms

Thu, 01 Sep, 2022

Kozubaev aiming high with Eastern as Inter-Zone semi-final looms

Jizzakh: Eastern Long Lions defender Tamirlan Kozubaev has revealed that it was a new challenge with an ambitious club that persuaded him to swap Central Asia for East Asia when the Kyrgyz Republic international joined the Hong Kong side ahead of their AFC Cup™ 2022 campaign.

The much-travelled centre-back, who was most recently in Kazakhstan but has also played his club football in Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Indonesia and his homeland, helped Eastern win both of their group stage games in June to advance to the AFC Cup knockout rounds for the first time.

Preview - West Zone Semi-final: Arabi SC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Preview - West Zone Semi-final: Arabi SC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)

Kuwait City: Oman’s Al Seeb travel north to Kuwait to face Al Arabi SC in the AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-final with both sides looking to extend a hitherto dream campaign in the competition.

With neither side having won the title before, an exciting clash is expected at the Kuwait Sports Club Stadium on Monday.

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: Players to Watch

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: Players to Watch

Dubai: With four teams having qualified to the AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-finals, matches over the course of Monday and Tuesday will decide the two sides to contest the West Zone Final in October.

Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC welcome Oman’s Al Seeb on Monday, while Bahrain will see a derby match between Riffa SC and neighbours East Riffa on Tuesday.

Ahead of the two eagerly anticipated matches, the-AFC.com has selected four players who could be the difference makers for their respective teams. 

AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your West Zone Knowledge!

Fri, 02 Sep, 2022

AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your West Zone Knowledge!

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-finals are set to enticing affairs with Kuwait’s Al Arabi to play Al Seeb of Oman while Bahraini clubs Al Riffa and East Riffa will square off in a derby.

The AFC Cup West Zone has always been fiercely contested and passionately followed and ahead of the semi-finals, the-AFC.com invites you - the fans - to test your knowledge. 

Riffa's Al Aswad relishing AFC Cup™ derby

Fri, 02 Sep, 2022

Riffa's Al Aswad relishing AFC Cup™ derby

Riffa: Ahead of arguably the most important domestic derby in their history, Riffa SC have one eye on the AFC Cup™ 2022 title, but first all focus has to be on overcoming neighbours East Riffa in the West Zone Semi-final, according to club captain Komail Al Aswad.

The homegrown hero spent his entire career at Riffa and has been the standout performer in a thrilling continental campaign for the Bahraini side, who dream of following on the path of compatriots Muharraq to keep the AFC Cup trophy in the island nation for the second year running.

West Zone S-Finals: 4 Classic Encounters

Thu, 01 Sep, 2022

West Zone S-Finals: 4 Classic Encounters

Dubai: With the AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-finals to take place on September 5 and 6, the-AFC.com takes a look at four classic matches that took place at this stage of previous editions.

The Zonal format was introduced five years ago, and some exciting encounters have taken place since with the exception of 2020 when the competition was cancelled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the Riffa Derby between East Riffa and Riffa Club and the Al Arabi SC vs Al Seeb tie, we take a look back at one game that stood out in each campaign.

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: How They Got There

Wed, 31 Aug, 2022

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: How They Got There

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone springs back into action next week with the semi-finals to be played in Kuwait and Bahrain.

The West Zone semi-finals will see Arabi SC of Kuwait hosting Oman's Al Seeb Club on Monday while East Riffa will play Al Riffa in an all-Bahrain clash the following day.

Join the-AFC.com as we retrace how the four teams navigated past the group stage that was played in May.